Washing mechanism for egg separating apparatus



Aug. 20, 1963 c. H. WILLSEY 3,101,146

WASHING MECHANISM FOR EGG SEPARATING APPARATUS Original Filed Oct. 2, 1956 6 Sheets-Sheet l f'ilinu lr- 25 0 I /6 INVENTOR. Char-"Z635 H W May,

Aug. 20, 1963 c. H. WlLLSEY 3,101,146

WASHING MECHANISM FOR EGG SEPARATING APPARATUS Original Filed Oct. 2, 1956 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 396 0 6 300 0042 Clzarllafifl IN VEN TOR.

Aug. 20, 1963 c. H. WILLSEY 3,101,146

WASHING MECHANISM FOR EGG SEPARATING APPARATUS Original Filed Oct. 2, 1956 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 I I I l I I I 1 IN V EN TOR.

I I Charlwffmllagg BY MwZZ/MMA M Aug. 20, 1963 c. H. WILLSEY WASHING MECHANISM FOR EGG SEPARATING APPARATUS 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Original Filed Oct. 2, 1956 5 m a .IIHHHIIMHHHHPIIIIIIIIIIIIIIHHHUHHHH lm NQN w Aug. 20, 1963 c. H. WILLSEY 3,

WASHING MECHANISM FOR EGG SEPARATING APPARATUS 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed Oct. 2, 1956 INVENTOR. C/zczriesflWd y,

BY wwwk W Aug. 20, 1963 c. H. WILLSEY 3,101,146

WASHING MECHANISM FOR EGG SEPARATING APPARATUS Original Filed Oct. 2, 1956 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Q a N &

8 Q 0 g N 0' a? Q INVENTOR. 5% c m 3 C/zczrlasHI Vdiaqy,

By MMflm Unite Sates This invention relates to egg handling apparatus and is more particularly concerned with improvements in a machine having mechanism for feeding eggs to a series of deatet vices for cracking or breaking successive eggs and separat- V ing the broken shell portions so as to deliver the contents therefrom by gravity into traveling cup mechanisms which are thereafter operated to separate the yolks from the whites.

4 This application is a division of Serial No. 613,498, filed October 2, 1956, now Patent No. 2,966,184, to which reference may be had for details not hereinafter described.

It is a general object of the present invention to provide an improved egg feeding mechanism for an egg cracking machine having mechanism for automatically cracking or breaking the shells of the successive eggs and delivering the contents thereof from the broken shells to successive receptacles which are carried on a separating conveyor, with the latter having associated therewith mechanism for advancing the successive receptacles while simultaneously separating the yolks from the whites, and with adequate provisions for handling the eggs rapidly and efliciently and for maintaining the machine and the product thereof in a sanitary condition.

It is a more specific object of the invention to provide a machine wherein successive eggs are delivered on end to cracking assemblies which are spaced about the periphery of a rotating frame, the cracking assemblies are advanced by rotation of the frame while gripping the eggs at both ends, the shell of each egg is cracked and separated into two portions which are moved apart by a hinging movement of the assembly members thereby to discharge or dump the contents into separating receptacles which are carried on a chain conveyor having one end supported for movement of the egg receiving receptacles in a path.

- beneath the cracking assemblies and wherein mechanism is associated with the receptacles for separating the yolks from the whites, for discharging the same into separate receiving trays or containers, and for maintaining the receptacles in a clean and sanitary condition.

It is a further object of the invention to provide in a mechanism of the type described an endless conveyor mounted in a horizontal plane and having mounted thereon egg contents receiving devices which comprise upper and lower pivotally connected tray members which are mounted for outboard swinging movement on the conveyor, the upper tray member being provided with a yolk cup and apertures for draining the white around the edges of the yolk cup and into the lower tray member, supporting members along the path of'the conveyor for maintaining the tray members at predetermined elevations whereby they receive the egg contents, separate the white from the yolk, and successively dump the white from the lower tray and the yolk from the upper tray, the devices being operable to dump a spoiled egg prior to separation, and a washing mechanism along the path of the conveyor which is operative to clean the devices when a spoiled egg is dumped therefrom. a

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from a consideration of the egg handling machine which is shown by way of illustration in the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view, of an egg breaking and contents separating machine embodying the principal features of the invention, with portions being broken away or omitted;

FIGS. 2A and 2B together constitute an elevation, on a larger scale, of one side of the machine, with portions of the mechanism being broken away or omitted;

FIG. 3 is a plan view, partially in section, taken on a horizontal plane immediately abovethe separating conveyor, with the separating cup assemblies being omitted and with portions broken away, the view being on an enlarged scale and showing particularly the supporting rails for the cup assemblies; 7

FIG. 4 is a partial elevation taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3 with the separating cup assemblies omitted and with portions broken away;

FIG. 5 is a section taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 2B with portions broken away;

FIG.6 is a cross section taken on the line 6-6 of FIG. 213;

FIG. 7 is a cross section taken on the line 7-7 of FIG.

2B; and

FIG. 8 is a section taken on the line 8-8 of FIG. 2A. Referring particularly to FIGS. 1 to 3 of the drawings, the general arrangement of the several mechanisms which are incorporated in the machine and the manner in which they cooperate in the processing of the eggs will first be described briefly.

The machine preferably includes a shell egg supply mechanism in the form of an egg washing or cleaning device having an egg supporting endless conveyor 10 with the discharge or delivery end thereof positioned to deliver successive rows of .6 eggs each to a transfer or feed conveyor 11 for the cracking and separating machine, as shown in FIG. 1. The eggs, as indicated at 12, are delivered after passage through the washer to the endless chain feed conveyor 11 which is supported at its ends for movement in a horizontal plane on the end sprockets 13 and 14, the latter being mounted on the upper end of a vertical drive shaft 15 which constitutes the main driving member for the entire machine. The chaincoveyor 11 carries a plurality of egg gripping or holding assemblies 16 for receiving the eggs 12 as they are delivered in row formation by the supply conveyor 10 and for advancing the eggs 12 in single row forming relation to a point adjacent the outer periphery of the end supporting sprocket 14 where the eggs are delivered to the cracking devices at the cracking station indicated at 17.

The eggs 12 are delivered, tone by one, from the holding assemblies 16 on the conveyor 11 to cracking assemblies 18 which are carried around the periphery of a circular supporting frame or plate structure 19 mounted below the end sprocket .14 on the vertical power shaft 15. The cracking assemblies 18, to which the individual eggs 12 are delivered with the long axis of the same extending vertically, are constructed to engage the periphery of each successive egg and to advance the same in a circular path around the power shaft 15. The crack ing assemblies 18 are pivotally connected to the periphery aromas of the supporting frame plate 19 and are operated as they advance to crack the egg shell and then swing downwardly to a dumping position where they open up and separate the cracked shell into two portions or halves which allows the egg contents to drop by gravity into one of a plurality of separating devices as which are mounted in spaced relation on an endless separating conveyor 21, the latter having one end thereof supported on an end sprocket 22 (FIGS. 2A and 5) secured on the vertical power shaft below the cracking head frame 19. The conveyor 21, which is arranged in a generally horizontal plane, has its other end supported on an idler sprocket 23 and the movement of the same is timed to align the separating devices 2d below the cracking assemblies 18 as they pass around the end sprocket 22. The separating devices 2d are advanced by conveyor 21 past an operator at an inspection station indicated. at 24 in FIG. 1, and the yolks and whites are separated by manipulation of the separating devices 2%. Thereafter the yolks and whites are delivered separately to chutes 25 and 26 and thence to collecting receptacles (not shown) for removal from the machine. Provision is made for dum ing the contents, prior to separation of the'yolks and whites, of any of the separating devices 20 into which the inspector finds a spoiled or inedible egg'has been delivered or in which the yolk has been broken. A washing machine 27 is arranged along the return run of the conveyor 21 for cleaning and sterilizing the separating devices 2%} firom which broken yolks or spoiled egg meats have been removed.

The egg contents separating assemblies 20, which are carried on the separating conveyor 21, move in an endless horizontal path beneath the cracking assemblies 18 and at the cracking station 17 each of the successive separating assemblies 20 is aligned beneath a cracking assembly '18 by proper relative spacing of the latter on the turret 19 and of the separating assemblies 29 on the conveyor 21 which has one end carried on the sprocket 22 secured to the shaft 1.5 immediately below the turret Each of the separating assemblies 20 (FIGS. 2B, 6 and 7) comprises three main portions, anupper egg receiving tray 2%, a lower albumen receiving pan 201, and a bail member 202 which serves to connect the two panlike members 200 and Zilil in pivoted relation and to support the same from the chain 21 by connection with a hanger bracket 2%. The upper tray portion 2% of the assembly 20', which initially receives the egg contents, includes a tray-like portion 264- which is open at the front edge and which has attached to the lower edge of forward portions of the side Walls 205 thereof a yolk cup 2426 of a size and shape adapted to receive the normal sized yolk of an egg. The rear end or edge of the yolk cup 206 is spaced from the forward edge of the bottom member 267 of the tray portion 294 to form a slot 208 through which the albumen may drain around the inner edge of the cup 206. The upper tray portion 204 is attached to the outer ends of the leg forming sections 209 of the supporting bail 291 by pivots 210. The pivoting of the tray portion 204 in a counter clockwise direction on the leg sections 2% is limited by an abutment stop forming member 211 projecting rearwardly of one or the side edges of the tray 2% and having its end engageable with a leg section 209.

The bottom' or albumen collecting pan 291 of the separating assembly 2% is of generally triangular shape with the back wall 212 having attached thereto upstanding bearing forming members 213 which receive a pivot fonming cross pin 214 extending between the leg sections 209 ofthe bail member 202. Relative movement between the legs 209 of the member 202 and the pan 201 is in the clockwise direction of the pan 2431 and is limited by an abutment stop member 215 whichexte-nds at right angles to one or the legs 209 and is adapted to engage with the inner surface of the back wall 212 of the pan 201. The pan 20 1 is provided at its forward end with a forwardly projecting pin 216 for a purpose which will be described. The bail member 262 has a portion 217 bent at an angle upwardly and rearwardly of the legs me which is adapted to be engaged in pivotal relation in a depending hook formation 218 on the hanger 203 and which is removable therefrom to remove the assembly 2% from the conveyor when desired.

The separating assemblies 20 are swingable outboard of the path of travel of the supporting conveyor 21 and their movement is controlled by a series of carn rails. The one end of the conveyor 2i (FIG. 3) is supported on sprocket 22 which is secured to the vertical shaft 15 while the other end is supported on the sprocket 23 which is mounted on a stub shaft 225 on a bearing plate 226 which is slotted at 227 to receive fastening studs 223 extending upwardly of a horizontal frame support structure 229. A top plate 2343 on the supporting structure 222 has it side edges upturned or flanged at 231 to provide a guide rail for holding the chain conveyor 21 in proper alignment by engagement of the top of the rail forming flange 231 beneath the hangers 203 on which the separating assemblies 26% are supported.

The separating assemblies 2t? are carried around the vertical shaft 15 by the conveyor 21 and sprocket 22 in a generally outwardly extending position and in vertical alignment beneath the cracking assemblies 18 which are positioned on the turret head 19 above the same. At the point in their movement at which the separating assemblies 26} receive the egg contents from an opened up cracking assembly 18 the lower albumen tray portion 24M is supported on the end of an =arcuate lower rail 232 (FIGS. 2A, 3, 5 and 6) while the upper tray-like portion 2% land the attached yolk cup 2% are supported in an outwardly extending slightly upwardly inclined position by an arcuate rail 233 which is arranged in spaced relation above the rail 232 :and supported therefrom by connecting bracket members 235 and 236. A guard rail 237 is preferably provided in spaced relation above the rail 232 and is supponted therefrom by connecting brackets 243, 2 51 and 242 which extend from the upright post 243 forming part of the main frarne 35. As the chain 21 leaves the end supporting sprocket 23 the successive separating assemblies 2d pass by. an inspection station 24 (FIGS. 1 and 5) at which an operator is positioned. The guard rail 237 terminates as the assemblies 2t) approach the inspection station 24 and the supporting nails 232 and 233 also terminate with their ends attached to a depending bracket forming member 244. At this point the support of the separating assemblies 29 is transferred to the uppermost one of a pair of generally parallel supporting rails 245 and 246 which extend along the run of the conveyor 21 above a collection pan 2A7 rat the inspection station '24. The rails 2% and 24-6 are supported one above the other at the one end by the depending bracket 24 4 with the bottom pan 201 of each assembly normally supported on the top rail 245 which is at a lower level than the supporting rail 233 so that the top tray portion 26d is tilted sufiiciently to position the yolk in the yolk cup 2% and allow the albumen to drain over the edges thereof into the lower albumen collecting pan 291, the latter being held at a substantialiy horizontal level.

As the separating assemblies Ztl pass the inspection station 24, the operator is able to observe the condition of the contents and provision is made for dumping any one of the assemblies which is carrying an egg not in condition to be separated. By exerting pressure rearwardly on the projecting pin 216 at the forwand end of the tray 243d", the tray 24) 1 may be pivoted about the pin 214 and the hanger member 2% sufiiciently to allow the entire assembly to swing clear of the upper suppontingrail 245 and dump the contents into the tray 247 beneath the same. If the character of the egg meats is such that it is desired to remove it entirely by a dumping operation,

this can be done at a point near the end of the rails 245 and 246 by merely pushing on the pin 216 sufficiently to transfer the support of the assembly 20 from the uppermost rail 245 to the lowermost rail 246 as the assembly.

moves by the inspection station 24. The bottom rail 246 has an offset portion 248 at the end thereof where it is attached to a vertical support post 249 forming part of the framework of the machine. The offset portion 248' allows the assembly 29 to swing to a vertical position to dump the entire contents into a disposal tray or chute 250 positioned below the same and above the collecting tray 247. The chute 25d is, of course, connected with a suitable disposal container (not shown). A back rail 251 for guiding assemblies which are dumped has one end attached at 252 to the outer face of the shell disposal chute 163. This rail 251 terminates at 253 adjacent the end 254 of an arcuate rail 255 which guides the dumped and soiled assemblies 21) into the housing 276' for the washing machine 27 which is supported along the rear run of the conveyor 21. The assemblies 20 which are observed to be in condition for separation of the whites or albumen-from the yolks are allowed to continue with the lower pan 2431 supported on the upper rail 245 until .the assemblies 20 pass the supporting post 249 where the rail 245 has a downwardly and inwardly curved extension 256 which allows the albumen collecting pan 291 to drop to a lower level and simultaneously tilt forwardly and downwardly to an inclined position and dump the contents into a collecting tray or chute 25 for discharge from the machine. Meanwhile, the yolk cup 206 is picked .up by an upper rail section 258 which has an upper end supported by the post 249 and which extends downwardly around the end of the conveyor 21. The rail section 258 over which the cup 206 initially travels curves partially around the end of the conveyor 21 and terminates at a discharge chute 26 into which the yolk is dumped. The lower rail 255 which carries thealbumen tray 2111 continues past the chute 26 and has an upwardly inclined section 269 extending to the top of the casing for the washing machine 27 so that the entire assembly 29, after the separation, rides on the rail section 260 to the top of the washing machine.

The upper rail section 258 is supported from the lower rail section 256 by a connecting bracket 26-1. Suitable upstanding rods or posts 262 and 263 support the rail 255 and the lowermost portion of the rail 256 above a horizontal extending bracket 264 on the end of the frame 229 of the machine. The lower inner rail 255 is split as it approaches the washing machine to provide two rail sections 265 and 266 for separating the paths of the two tray portions 209 and 291 of the assemblies 26 for the washing operation. The collecting trays and chutes 247, 259, 25 and 2d are removab-ly supported by suitable brackets or the like on the supporting frame 229' of the machine so that they may cleaning. V p I The washing apparatus 27 (FIGS. 213, 3, 5, 6 and 7) which is mounted in the housing 279 comprises a pair of horizontally disposed brushes 271 mounted on'laterally spaced shafts 272 and 273 which are connected in driven relation to a power shaft 27-4. The brush'shafts 27 2 and 273 are supported in suitable bearing members 275 at the entrance end of the housing and provided with pulleys 276 which are connected by belts 278 with a pulley 279 on the end of the drive shaft 274, the latter being supported in bearing members 280 and 281 at opposite ends of the housing 279. The guide rails 265 and 266which' guide the assemblies 29' into the housing 270 direct the upper tnay portion 2% between the brushes 271 and hold the lower tray 291 against the inermost br-ush 27-1. Water or other sterilizing fluid is supplied to the brushes 271 by a perforated pipe 282 positioned above the same and supported at 283 in the outside. Wall 284 of the housing 27 0 and connected by suitable couplings 285 with a supply line for the cleaning fluid. The washing appanatus also be readily removed for as shown in FIG. 5 to spray the separate portions of the separating cup assembly 20. The nozzles 286, 287 and 288 are connected by suitable pipes with the cleaning fluid supply. A control valve 289 is provided with a pivotally mounted operating arm 290 which extends into the path of movement of the assemblies 20 to turn the fluid on as the assemblies pass the nozzles 286, 287 and 288.

As the separating assemblies 20 which have passed through the washing machine 27 emerge, cleaned and sterilized, from the open end of the washer housing 270, they engage with a guide rail 291 (FIGS. 2A and 3) which brings them' up to supporting rails 232 and 233 at the cracking station 17. Those, assemblies 20 which do not go through the washing machine 27 are supported on the top of the housing 270 as they advance and pass over the washing machine and onto the rail 292 on which they move to the support rails 232 and 233 at the cracking station 17.

The vertically mounted power drive shaft 15 (FIGS. 2A and 8) is supported in top and bottom bearings 293 and 294. A drive sprocket 295 is mounted on the shaft 15 adjacent the bottom bearing 294 and connected by a drive chain 296 with the output sprocket 297 of a change speed device 298. The input shaft 299 of the change speed device 298 is connected to the power shaft of a holder assemblies 16, with the eggs being supplied in rows- Of 6 each as they come from a conventional shipping case,

,and preferably with the eggs being washed and sterilized while they are on the conveyor 10. Each egg is carried by a holder 16 to the delivery station A (FIGS. 1 and 8) where the holder assembly 16 is allowed to rotate and then release the egg so that the latter drops by gravity into a cracking assembly 18 which is aligned below the feed holder assembly 16. The egg is gripped in the assembly and the shell cracked as the entire assembly 18 swings downwardly and advances toward station C where the dumping occurs (FIG. 3). An empty separating assembly 20 is moved by the conveyor chain 21 into verti-- cal alignment beneath each cracking assembly 18 at station C with the lower "pan 201 supported on the lower rail 232. The upper pan 209 is positioned only a very short distance below the egg as the cracked shell portions are opened up by operation of the assembly 18 and the egg contents is delivered by gravity into the pan portion 2.00 so that there is a minimum of broken yolks in the operationof the mechanism. The cracking assemblies 18 andthe separating assemblies 20 travel in vertical aligninent around the shaft 15 and any white which clings to the shell portions is blown out by operation of the air jet assembly, a portion of. which is indicated at (FIG. 2A) which travels for a predetermined distance with the same. The white removed by the air jet assembly 179 is delivered tothe upper pan 290 of the separating assembly 2 9 and subsequently separated with the white delivered by gravity. v

" The separating assemblies 20 with the egg contents in the upper pan 200 are advanced along the supporting rails 232 and 233 to the rail 245 where the upper p-an 200 of each assembly is tilted sufficiently to move the yolk into the cup 296 and drain the white around the edge of the same into the lower pan201. The operator at inspection. station24 observes the contents of each assembly and any broken. yolks are immediately dumped into part 247 by V pushing the lower'pan 201 toward the chain 21 a sufficient distance to pivot the entire assembly on the bail portion- 218 and permit it to swing clear of both support rods 245 and 246. If a bloody egg is observed, the operator pushes the lower pan toward the chain 21 a sufficient distance for the pan 2% to drop to lower support rail 246 on which it rides until the assembly reaches the offset portion 243 thereof where it rides oil the rail246 and dumps the contents into the pan 25% below the same. The assemblies which carry egg meats observed to be in condition for separation are carried to the end of support rail 24-5 where the upper pan 2% rides on rail 258 while the lower pan 2M rides on rail 256 for dumping of the contents in the chutes 26 and 25, respectively. These assemblies then continue around to the cracking station 17 being carried over the top of the housing 274 The assemblies 2@ which have been dumped at the inspection station are carried, in depending relation, to the washing machine and are directed into the housing by the split rails 265 and 266 so that they are operated on by the brushes 271 and subsequently sprayed by the nozzles 286, 287 and 283. As the cleaned and sterilized assemblies 2h emerge from the washing machine they are swung up to the station C by engagement with support rail 291 (FIG. 2A).

The separating assemblies 25 may, of course, be readily removed from the conveyor 21 when it is desired, for any reason, to replace them and a new one substituted While they are passing between the inspection station 24 and the cracking station 17.

I claim:

1. In an egg separating apparatus wherein a plurality of egg contents receiving devices are carried on a traveling conveyor, said devices comprising a pair of pan members pivotally mounted for swinging movement between a generally horizontal contents receiving position extending outboard of the conveyor and a contents dumping position extending downwardly of the conveyor, means forming a washing compartment below the conveyor in the path of movement of the pan members which are carried in downwardly extending relation thereon, a pair of cylindrical brushes rotatably mounted on horizontal axes in said compartment, means for rotating said brushes, means for guiding one of said depending pan members between said rotating brushes, a plurality of laterally spaced spray nozzles mounted in said compartment beyond said brushes, means for guiding said downwardly extending pan members through the spray area of said nozzles, means for supplying a cleaning fluid to said brushes and said nozzles, a valve controlling the flow of the cleaning fluid, and a pivoted operating arm on said valve which projects into the path of said pan members so as to operate said valve upon passage of said pan members.

2. In an egg separating apparatus wherein a plurality.

of egg contents receiving receptacles are carried on a traveling conveyor, said receptacles being pivotally mounted for swinging movement between a generally horizontal contents receiving position extending outboard of the conveyor and a contents dumping position extending downwardly of the conveyor, means forming a washing compartment below the conveyor in the path of movement of receptacles which are carried in downwardly extending relation thereon, said washing compartment having a spray area, a spray device including a pair of brushes rotatably mounted in said compartment adjacent said spray area and a pair of spaced spray nozzles on opposite sides of said spray area and beyond the ends of said brushes, means for rotating said brushes, means for guiding said downwardly extending receptacles between said rotating brushes and through said spray area between said nozzles, a valve controlling the flow of the cleaning fluid, and an operating arm on said valve projecting into the path of said downwardly extending receptacles so as to be operated thereby to clean said receptacles.

3. In an egg separating apparatus wherein a plurality of egg contents receiving receptacles are pivotally mounted on a'conveyor which is supported for horizontal movement, said receptacles being pivotally mounted on said conveyor for selective swinging movement between a generally horizontal contents receiving position Where they extend outwardly of the conveyor and a contents dumping position where they depend from the conveyor, means including a housing forming a washing compart ment below the conveyor and in the path of depending receptacles, said housing having a top portion provided with a slot extending along and immediately beneath said conveyor, a pair of brushes, means to support said brushes in horizontal position in said compartment, means for rotating said brushes, means for guiding receptacles which are in depending relation on said conveyor through the slot in said housing and past said brushes, means for supplying a cleaning fluid to said brushes, and means for guiding receptacles which are in outwardly extending position on said conveyor onto the top of said housing for support on said housing and movement over the same.

4. In an egg separating apparatus wherein a plurality of egg contents receiving receptacles are pivotally'mounted on a horizontal conveyor for swinging movement between a generally horizontal contents receiving position extending laterally of the conveyor and a contents dumping position depending from the conveyor, a housing forming a washing compartment below the conveyor which is located in the path of movement of depending receptacles carried thereon, said housing having a slot in the top and extending into the end walls, a pair of brushes rotatably mounted on parallel horizontal axis in said compartment, means for rotating said brushes, means for guiding receptacles which are in depending position on the conveyor through the slot in the housing and between said brushes, means for supplying a cleaning fluid to said brushes, and means for guiding receptacles which are extending laterally of the conveyor over the top of said housing so as to bypass the washing compartment.

5. In anvegg separating machine wherein a plurality of egg contents separating devices are mounted on an endless conveyor, said devices each comprising a bracket member pivoted on said conveyor and a pair of pan members pivotally connected to said bracket member so that the pan members may be released for downward swinging movement at the will of the operator from a generally horizontal contents receiving position to a depending contents dumping position, means including top and end wall members forming a washing chamber arranged beneath the conveyor in the path of depending pan members, said chamber having openings in the top 1 and end walls to permit depending pan members to pass through said chamber, a pair of rotating brushes mounted in said chamber, means for guiding depending pan members through said chamber with said pan members passing on opposite sides of one of said brushes and means for discharging a cleaningifiuid into said brushes for cleaning said pan members.

6. In an egg separating apparatus wherein a plurality of egg contents receiving pan members are pivotally mounted-in paired relation on an endless conveyor which is supported for horizontal travel, each pair of pan members being pivotally mounted on said conveyor for swinging movement between a generally horizontal contents receiving position extending outwardlyof the conveyor and a contents dumping position extending downwardly of the conveyor, means forming a washing compartment including a housing located below a portion of the conveyor in the path of movement of pan members carried in downwardly extending position thereon, said housing having top and end walls, connected slots in said top and end walls, a pair of brushes rotatably mounted on 9 extending pairs of pan members through the slots in the end wall and top wall, means for swinging the pan members of each pair thereof so that they straddle one of said brushes, means for supplying a cleaning fluid to said brushes, spray nozzles adjacent saidbrushes, said spray nozzles being positioned so. as to direct a spray of cleaning fluid into the opensides of the pan members after the pan members advance beyond the brushes, means for supplying a cleaning fluid to said spray nozzles and control means therefor which is responsive to passage of the pan members.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. IN AN EGG SEPARATING APPARATUS WHEREIN A PLURALITY OF EGG CONTENTS RECEIVING DEVICES ARE CARRIED ON A TRAVELING CONVEYOR, SAID DEVICES COMPRISING A PAIR OF PAN MEMBERS PIVOTALLY MOUNTED FOR SWINGING MOVEMENT BETWEEN A GENERALLY HORIZONTAL CONTENTS RECEIVING POSITION EXTENDING OUTBOARD OF THE CONVEYOR AND A CONTENTS DUMPING POSITION EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY OF THE CONVEYOR, MEANS FORMING A WASHING COMPARTMENT BELOW THE CONVEYOR IN THE PATH OF MOVEMENT OF THE PAN MEMBERS WHICH ARE CARRIED IN DOWNWARDLY EXTENDING RELATION THEREON, A PAIR OF CYLINDRICAL BRUSHES ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON HORIZONTAL AXES IN SAID COMPARTMENT, MEANS FOR ROTATING SAID BRUSHES, MEANS FOR GUIDING ONE OF SAID DEPENDING PAN MEMBERS BETWEEN SAID ROTATING BRUSHES, A PLURALITY OF LATERALLY SPACED SPRAY NOZZLES MOUNTED IN SAID COMPARTMENT BEYOND SAID BRUSHES, MEANS FOR GUIDING DOWNWARDLY EXTENDING PAN MEMBERS THROUGH THE SPRAY AREA OF SAID NOZZLES, 